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Your career in London

If you are excited by the idea of practicing international law, but crave the teamwork, mentoring and direct client contact that a smaller office offers, we may be the firm for you. Our 100 lawyers in London work closely with our teams in markets worldwide, from Paris to New York, Silicon Valley to Shanghai. We focus globally and in London on three sectors: Technology & Innovation, Energy & Infrastructure (E&I) and Finance.

In 2020, our London Technologies Companies team completed more than 230 venture financings on behalf of some of the most exciting innovators in the market. Our E&I team advised on some of the most important energy and infrastructure projects here in the UK, across Europe and in Africa. We also have teams focused on finance; capital markets; M&A; tax; competition; cyber, privacy and data innovation; employment and dispute resolution.  

Whether you’re looking to start your law career or join us from another firm, our London office offers a dynamic, collaborative environment. We offer a comprehensive training program, including academies focused on developing business skills as you advance. And we will ensure you connect with mentors and have opportunities to make a social impact.

If you are interested in joining us as an experienced lawyer in London, please see our current listings or contact Sophia Eleftheriou, Recruitment Manager, at [email protected].

Our Training Program

Our training program, which commences in August, is designed to provide you with everything you will need to succeed:

  1. Exposure to a variety of practice areas  To help you explore all the different areas in which we practice and gain the critical skills necessary to qualify, you will sit six, four-month seats, including a contentious seat. You will be supervised by a partner for each seat, and also receive coaching and mentoring from our entire team.
  2. Support from a dedicated trainee partner  London Partner Sushila Nayak heads our UK trainee program. She will help ensure you have a varied set of assignments and skill-building opportunities. She will also work with you on an individual basis to understand your interests, identify your strengths and help you address any challenges that come up.
  3. Extensive feedback  You will receive regular appraisals across the two-year training experience to help you gain the most from your training.

What We Look For in Trainee Candidates

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We welcome candidates with different experiences and backgrounds. In fact, two-thirds of our trainees have non-law degrees. We look for a commitment to excellence. Applicants for our graduate trainee program should have achieved or be on track for a 2:1 degree (in any discipline). Law undergraduates can apply from their penultimate year onward. Non-law undergraduates can apply from their final year onward. 

As part of our graduate recruitment process, we are using the Rare Contextual Recruitment System. This is a specially developed system which allows us to measure candidates' achievements in the context of their socioeconomic background. Using this system means we can better understand candidates' achievements, and identify those that have performed exceptionally well from a range of diverse backgrounds.

To apply for our 2024 August Training Program, please submit an application online. Applications open on 1 October 2021 and close on 29 May 2022.

Vacation Scheme

The primary route to applying for a training contract with us is to apply for a space on one of our summer vacation scheme programmes which will take place in June and July 2022. Our vacation scheme offers participants an opportunity to London office of a U.S. law firm in action and get an insight into what life as a trainee would be like here.

During the two-week scheme you'll spend time in two of our London practices, working on real work alongside our trainees, associates and partners. There will also be a variety of social opportunities and events that run throughout the scheme, giving you an opportunity to really get to know our team.

To apply for a vacation scheme please submit an application by 31 January 2022. If your application is shortlisted you will be invited to take part in an assessment centre, which includes an interview, a drafting exercise and an opportunity to participate in a business game designed to give an insight into the work of a solicitor.

Training Contract Only

We also offer a direct training contract application route, designed primarily for those who are unable to complete a vacation scheme with us. This is part of our commitment to ensuring equal access to our opportunities – we recognise that not all our applicants will be able to attend a vacation scheme with us.

For more about interviewing, salary and sponsorship, please see our London Graduate Recruitment brochure.